The Bloodwood Dragonfly

Here are my Bloodwood Dragonflies, and as you might have guessed they are made from bloodwood, the wings are curly maple and the legs are walnut. It was interesting researching dragonflies online to find the right picture to work from so many to choose from, but the simplest is usually the best. They were an anniversary gift for members of our family, it is always satisfying to know your work is appreciated and they’ll enjoy it.

Taking wood to work

My latest project was a recreation of a wooden laptop case, construction was the same, I just made a few material changes. The sides are curly maple the top and bottom are panels of birdseye maple, rather than use plywood. I used walnut with purple heart for the corner splines and inserts, instead of maple with cheery, I like the way they stand out. It was a fun project and a little challenging as I have not had to make dado cuts on the corners before, and with a homemade jig for the table saw, they came out great, better then my nerves were when I started.

The Woody Bee

You’ve heard of “The Bumble Bee”, “The Honey Bee”, “The Worker Bee”, “Billy Bee”, and “Busy Bee”, to name a few, now let me introduce you to “The Woody Bee”. The Sussex Artists’ Co-op will be hosting “Bee In this Place” and I thought it would be fun to try to make a bee and here they are. They are made from Pau Amarello and Wenge wood for the body, Curley Maple for the wings and Walnut for the antenna, legs and stinger. You would never guess how much sanding goes into those little legs, lots trust me.

Laying Tools

I made these laying tools a while ago, they are used by Fibre Artists, Embroiders, Quilters, and Needle workers just to name a few of those who are skilled to create exquisite work, what we sometimes take for granted. A laying tool can give a neater appearance to needlework by helping multiple strands of floss or other fibres lay side-by-side without twisting. They are made from several type of wood and a couple combined.

Furniture

Today I thought I would post some of the furniture I have made. From bookcases to repairing/reproducing chair legs, they’re all challenging and I enjoy making them all. Each has something new I haven’t done before, be it adding doors, dovetail joints, or some detailed work, even shop made cove moulding. In the end they were fun to build.

My first big project was a day bed, redesigned from a magazine, I made it higher,added the back, and drawers in the front. The only mechanical fasteners used were screws to hold the plywood bed in place, the rest are mortise and tenon joinery.

The bed I made in 1997 and the end tables in 2002. Sorry about the picture quality, it was scanned from a print.

The book case was a big project and with something this size you always need two, the top cove and trim were had made. A lot of work but well worth it, they look great.

This hall tree I designed to match the book cases.

This TV stand was custom built, it was painted black and oriental hardware added.

This part to an older office chair required some repair, one of the legs was broken, so I replaced them all with oak, the centre joint was a dovetail cut, it worked out great, and should last another 50 years.

This is a display case I made to custom fit into an old door way, it has doors on the bottom that are spring loaded to open with a simple push.

Here is a simple bookcase for our spare room.

It is always nice to recycle wood, I got some pine from an old bed frame, dressed it an waited for a place to use it, and it didn't take long. Here is a little stand for the bathroom.

I've been told you can't have enought bookshelves, so here is one made for the kitchen and the one behind it with wheels, a place for the cat to eat.

Another recycled project, we had mahogany valances in the living room and dining room that didn’t' match what we had in mind, so once again they were set aside until the right time. We needed new living room end tables and I happen to have just the wood. They are stained with red mahogany and finished with several coats of satin poly, I am very happy how they turned out.

When sitting in a chair without a table how do you put down your thoughts comfortably, a writing slope can solve that. This is made from cherry, with leather top, the underside is my wife’s had died material; it fits with this project perfectly. And it should it was made for her.

Wooden Boxes

Here are a few boxes I have made over the years, most are simple construction, mitred corners, dados for the bottom and top sliders. Some have inlayed work, a very new experience. Materials vary maple (plane, birdseye and curley), walnut, purpleheart, pine, and zebra wood, one is two old sewing boxes converted into one large box.

Walnut box for Brian.

My early venire (cherry) and inlay (maple & beach) work, a chisel box for Murray.

Birdseye maple with walnut trim for Mom.

Two inlayed boxes for Mom, one pine the other maple.

Two sewing boxed made into one.

My tool box in Cold Lake, it kept everything clean and in one place, not much storage.

A simple walnut box with a fitted top.

Walnut with an insert shelf, two laying tools for Fibre Artists, the top slides in.

Zebra wood with laying tools, an insert and slider top.

Purple heart with walnut inlayed around the box, an insert and slider top.

Purple hear with an insert, and a fitted top.

Walnut with insert and fitted lid for Shelley.

Curley maple wit dividers and slider top for Murratte and Joe.

Walnut with purple heart banding, sun inlay (maple) a slider lid and a secret bottom, for Dale.